Well everyone, working with the railroad can bring in quite a few stories. Some good, some bad. Some exciting, some scary. And then there's the ones you just can't make up. So I figured I'd share them with you as they happen. Won't be sharing them all, but I'll certainly share the ones I feel are interesting!

On the Ground
Well isn't this great as a student conductor? We had a work order to pick up some grain cars from an industry in route, and I was calling the engineer back to make the joint. I had lined, locked, and checked all the switches as required. Derails had been taken off, and I was about three cars from the engines. I told the engineer I'd be getting on in about three, and the joint was in about twelve. Well pretty soon I had to give him the order to stop, and so did my instructor (who was probably about four cars further than me). It turns out the track was wide gauge, and we came off on the switch. Luckily nobody was injured, but the switch had to be taken out of service. Very scary for a student, especially since I was in charge of the movement!

A Hunting We Will Go
So where is the best place to hunt duck? I'll give you a hint - it's not the tracks! Speeding eastward at 49mph, we noticed something ahead on the tracks. It looked like this big orange blob from a distance. As we got closer, we were able to see that it was in fact two people and their dog. My engineer blew the horn, and the dog instantly ran off the tracks. The hunters? Well they just looked at us and casually walked away. And by walking away I mean they just stood about twenty feet away from the tracks as we went by -.- I opened my window and gave them that "what's the matter with you" look. They just smiled like idiots and waved, to which I just shook my head. There's a moral to this story, and it's sad I still need to mention it - Do not play, hunt, walk, run, sit, photograph, or ANYTHING, on the tracks. It is dangerous and can result in death. And if it doesn't, it can end up with very heavy fines. Don't do it. Be safe. Think twice. Stay off the tracks.


Well those are two for me to start off with. Any questions you have about railroading feel free to ask me!

Regards,
Scott

Eh? Stay off your precious roads? Sounds like you're just being greedy. The deer use it too.

It's not the smartest thing to do, but it makes for the easiest walking in some pretty remote locations.

Plus, they tend to ignore what a high-speed de-rail is like from 20 feet from the track.

There's also a slight chance they may or may-not be retired hoboes.
-Not sure how they plan on loading themselves AND an deer onto a moving boxcar, but sure would be fun to watch.

Don't worry, I'll alert the dispatcher and authorities, just like I do every time.

Ah, but think about the possibility to pick up chicks in the rain with a train!

Hmmm, pick up strangers or keep my job? I would prefer to keep my job, also considering I have someone.

What if they paid?

Still illegal and will result me losing my job

Is there a way to get a permission-slip? Or do you think they'd buy the idea that the boarders commandeered your train at gunpoint?

...

Totally not suggesting an armored-train-robbery. That's so quaintly partisan and vintage.

*considers armed federal takeover of Amtrak*

The fact that they had time to slowly walk 20 feet away from the train before you passed them probably suggests there wasn't much real danger.
Can it result in danger? Yes, if they stay on the tracks. But then look at something like Jaywalking, you wouldn't do it if the road was busy, but it's normally fine if the roads empty or the only car is way off.

Calculated risks, and since they not only got 20 feet away beforehand, but they slowly got there?
I honestly don't think they were doing anything that stupid.

I can't control stupidity, whether it's online or offline. Anyone who thinks like you just ends up as another statistic.